The One with the Fountainhead - Part 1

The Fountainhead may have been good enough in the 60’s, but we’re in the Information Age now

Abstract

A parody of Ayn Rand’s novel,
The
Fountainhead, modelled around a two part episode of
the Television sitcom show
Friends.
Somewhat unhappy with the original book, the six friends in the show role-play
their own version of The Fountainhead, while trying to improve upon it.
Will they succeed?

What was the photo of the Parthenon replaced with?
Why was Chandler happy to play Peter Keating?
Which element is featured in every second-rate romantic novel?
Which piece of advice did Toohey give Dominique Francon?
Why did cruising with Gail Wynand turn out to be a bad idea?
And who were the bad guys in the story?

Read the screenplays to find out.

The One with the Fountainhead - Part 1

[
Note: This is not a real Friends episode, but one written by
Shlomi Fish. Being Friends fan-fiction, Fish disclaims all copyright
claims to some of the characters and concepts presented here. This work also
serves as a parody of the book The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand, which is
also copyrighted, and the characters and concepts from it belong to the Ayn
Rand estate.
]

Joey Reading the Fountainhead

[
The girls’ apartment: Ross and Chandler are by the chair watching T.V., Joey
is reading a book on the sofa. Monica is at the counter, preparing food. Rachel
is sitting on a stool by the counter.
]

Ross: I can’t believe he could not tell the other guy wasn’t really a dinosaur.

Chandler: Well, cartoon characters usually have a difficulty seeing through
disguises.

Rachel:[Walks over to the sofa.] Joey, what are you doing?

Joey: Reading a book.

Rachel: Which book? [bends over to look at the open pages]

Joey:The Fountainhead.

Rachel:TheThe Fountainhead by Ayn Rand?

Joey: Yes.

Monica: So, you’re dedicating some time to catch up with your reading?

Joey: Actually, I’ve already read it once, but I’m reading it again because
there’s a play brewing about it, and I have an audition for it today.

Ross: You’ve already read it?

Joey: Yeah [puts the book down]. I was in acting school, and the guys decided
to throw a discussion about it. So, I decided that I’ll read the book so I can
make a good impression on the ladies if y’know what I mean…

Chandler: Must have been one of the most stimulating nights of your life.

Joey: Not quite as much as the next night.

[
Opening Credits
]

Let’s role-play our own version

Phoebe:[Entering.] Hiaaa, did I miss anything?

Chandler: Well, Joey has an audition for a play version of The
Fountainhead.

Phoebe: Oooh, [approaches] good for Joey [pats his head]. Did you read it
already?

Joey: Hey, know what we can do, so I can get prepared for the audition? Let’s
role-play our own version of The Fountainhead.

Rachel: Our own version? Why would we want to write our own version of it! This
book is great.

The others: “Yes.” “One of the best books I ever read.” “Can’t get better than
this”

Joey: Come on, if you wanted to write it today, would you write the same book?

[
Silence.
]

Phoebe: Well, for once: didn’t it bother you that Dominique Francon, the main
female character, didn’t do anything in the best years of her life, except
like… sleeping with people?

Ross: Yeah. All the characters in fact do nothing in the 20’s and 30’s, except
maybe build some buildings.

Joey: If you ask me: the book is too slow-paced for the 90’s. I mean, in the
60’s it may have worked but we’re in the information age now.

Ross: Joey, The Fountainhead was written in 1943.

Joey: Yeah, but it was still good enough in the 60’s right? OK: our own version
of The Fountainhead - here’s what I think it should look like

[
The screen becomes liquid-like and blurry to indicate an imagined sequence.
Then: a dramatic music is heard and a black and white screen appears with the
title The Fountainhead and several building around. The slide changes to
“Starring: Chandler Bing, Phoebe Buffet, Monica Geller”.
]

Ross’ Voice: Let’s skip the opening, OK.

Roark Quitting Stanton Tech

[
The screen changes to a long shot of a provincial university and then the dean
office is shown. The dean is standing in the middle holding one picture in each
one of his hands.

Ross enters the room in informal clothes, and with an Orange-colored hair.
]

[
Cut to the girls’ apartment.
]

Chandler: Hey! How come you’re playing Roark?

Ross: Cause… cause… I was the first!

Chandler: Oh good, and who do we get to play? Why don’t I play the
overwhelmingly exciting role of Austen Heller. I’m doing it so Joey can have
the role of Mike the Electrician.

Dean: OK. Can you please climb this chair, and put it on top of the fireplace
instead of the other photograph? [Roark does so, and replaces a photograph of
the Parthenon, with a black and white photo of the Taj Mahal]

Dean: Thanks. Could you believe that it’s some gigantic grave in India that
no-one ever heard about?

Roark: Well, it’s quite inspiring… at least aesthetically.

Dean: Well, back to why I called you here… Oh yes… about you being kicked out
of this school.

Roark: Yes.

Dean: I’d like to let you know that I’ll do everything I can so you’ll be
admitted back.

Roark: What?

Dean: Mr. Roark, you have the will, character, and maybe even the talent of a
genius. Therefore, I cannot afford the Stanton Institute of Technology to lose
a man like you. In fact, I’d like to recommend them to extend your scholarship,
so you can…

Roark: Sir, I’d like to leave, but thanks for your concern anyway.

Dean: Wha … wha … what? Are you sure?

Roark: Yes. I am.

Dean: Anything I can do to change your mind?

Roark: No, I feel like I’ve learned everything I needed to learn here.

Dean: Very well. [he’s puzzled]

Roark: I think I’m going to leave now. Thanks again.

Roark and Keating Planning Their Future

[
Roark leaves the room, and on his way out meets Chandler who is wearing a
black graduation cloak.
]

Peter Keating: Oh, hey Howard. How did it go?

[
Cut to Chandler.
]

Chandler: Peter Keating? Me? [Thinks for a moment] Hey, does this mean I’ll be
role-playing the most physically attractive male character in this story?

Ross: I guess.

Chandler:[Joyfully.] Peter Keating it is.

[
Cut to Roark and Keating
]

Roark: Well, as far as you’re concerned - I quit.

Keating: Hey - I knew this place wasn’t big enough for you. What are you
planning to do now?

Roark: Travel to New-York, and um… work for Henry Cameron.

Keating: That loser? … I mean: well, you’re the architectural genius around
here. Listen, why don’t we get to the big apple together, and keep in touch.
I’m going to find myself a nice job and all, but I suppose I can arrange you
guys a commission or two. I’m good at those things.

Roark:[Laconically] Yes, Peter. You are.

Catherine and Toohey

Phoebe’s voice: Oooh, now I want to continue. Let’s see, yes. [The scene
changes to Ellsworth Toohey’s home] Keating and Roark, were not the only ones
to arrive at New-York at that time. Catherine Halsey, Peter’s valentine for
many years, who had just lost her mother, was moving to reside with her uncle.
The latter was Ellsworth Toohey, a creepy academic and journalist of the
so-called “humanitarian” kind.

[
The door is ringing. Toohey (depicted by Mr. Heckels) goes to open it.
Catherine (Phoebe in a casual dress, made to look very young) is standing
behind it.
]

Catherine:[Puts her suitcase on the floor.] Oh, you know… It’s been two weeks,
and I met this really funny woman on the train.

Toohey: Well, as you know, I’m a very busy man, I receive very little money,
and my work is crucial to the welfare of, well… mankind. Still, hosting you
is my moral duty, and I’ll let you stay here and finance all your needs. I’ll
even put you to school or college if that is what you want.

Catherine:[Turns to face him.] Fuck you, Uncle Ellsworth!

Toohey: I… beg your pardon?

Catherine: Give me two or three days to find a job, I’ll pay you the rent, and
we’ll share the bills. Otherwise, you’ll probably use my “gratitude” to
psychologically manipulate me and leave me incapable of surviving in the real
world for at least ten years.

[
Toohey is bewildered
]

Toohey: Fine, pay the rent if you like. But where did you get that idea about
the psychological manipulation and stuff?

Catherine: Duh! It’s in every second-rate romantic novel. What do you think
about each of us cooking dinner on alternate days?

Toohey: Okay. Remember my cabbage pie?

[
Pause.
]

Catherine: On second thought: I’ll do all the cooking.

Meet Cameron

[
Cut to Cameron’s Office door. Roark and Keating arrive there after climbing
the stairs.
]

Cameron:[Shouting from behind the door] You bastard, can’t you do a basic
design the right way? One day I’ll have you fired. On second thought, one day
I’ll have all of you fired.

Keating:[Looking at the sign on the door] Well that’s the place.

[
Roark opens the door and they both enter. Cameron (depicted by Mr. Geller) is
sitting at his desk looking at a design.
]

Cameron:[To Roark and Keating] What do ya want?

Roark: Good morning, Mr. Cameron. My name is Howard Roark, and I just quit
Stanton Tech so I can work for you. I have some designs which you may want to
look at. [Hands him his designs.]

Cameron:[While inspecting the designs] Very impressive… best ones I’ve seen in
years. OK: you’ve got the job. Start working tomorrow. I’ll give you 20 dollars
per week.

Keating: Sir, I was wondering if you could…

Cameron: Sure thing. In that case, I’ll give each of you 10 bucks a week.

[
Keating shrugs, and smiles stupidly.
]

Chandler’s Voice: With Roark by his side and with Peter Keating doing the
public-relations work, Cameron became the hottest architect in New-York by the
end of the year. However, after Roark and Cameron had a long fight of whether
the steps of a certain house should be white or light beige, Peter suggested
that they all go separate ways. Thus, Roark quit to open his own office, while
Peter started his own public relations company and is now regarded as the
father of American publicists. [During this speech there are various slides:
Cameron, Roark and Keating smiling; Roark and Cameron fighting while Peter
tries to calm them down; a photo of the Keating Foundation.]

Book Discussion about Jane Eyre

[
Cut to Catherine’s apartment. She is hosting a book discussion with many of
her female friends. Sophie (depicted by Bonnie, the friend Phoebe fixed up with
Ross) with long blonde hair and looking in her prime is there.
]

Catherine’s Female Friend No. 1: So I was thinking Jane has no choice but to go
back to Mr. Rochester. Otherwise, the readers will say: hey, it was a great
story, but the ending is so out of place.

[
There’s a knock on the door and Catherine rises to answer. It’s Peter.
]

Catherine: Oh, hello Peter. Ahmm… you can’t come in now.

Peter:[With a tone of casual interest] Why, what are you doing now?

Catherine: Ahmmm.. I’m having a book discussion.

Peter: About which book?

Catherine: Ahmmm… “Jane Eyre”.

Peter: Really? I love “Jane Eyre”. [steps in] Oh, hello all! My name is Peter
Keating, I’m a friend of Catherine’s, and I’d really like to join you so you’ll
excuse me for interrupting. By the way, you can call me Peter.

Most of the other participants: Hhhhiiiiii…

[
Cut to end of the discussion.
]

Peter: So you see why I think that Bronté purposely wrote the book so we’ll
wonder whether she is being anti-religious or pro-religious?

Catherine’s Female Friend No. 2: Yes. Good bye, Mr. Keating!

Peter: Good-bye to you too, Miss Wellington.

[
Short pause. Catherine lowers her look and look around nervously.
]

Catherine: So…

Peter: Did you have anything else planned for the evening?

Catherine:[Reluctantly] No.

Peter: Well, then since it’s rather late, I’ll be going now. It was a wonderful
evening [kisses her on the chick]. Good Bye!

Catherine: Bye. [she closes the door after Peter and lies against the door.]
Ehmmmm… I’m going to die an old maid at this rate. [Walks forwards, off the
door.]

Enter Dominique

[
Cut to an office desk.
]

Monica’s voice: However Peter was not alone. Romance was waiting for Howard too
in the form of Dominique Francon, a newly employed journalist in the New-York
Banner, the city most popular second-grade newspaper.

[
The camera zooms out to reveal Dominique (depicted by Rachel) organising her
desk. Cut to Monica and Rachel’s
]

Rachel:What? Me? “Perfect beauty”? the most sought-after spinster in
New-York city? As if!

Joey: Why not?

Rachel: For once, I’m not slim enough to fit into Rand’s description.

Ross: See, see, even you admit that you’re chubby!

Monica: The thing is, Roark… Ross is my brother.

Rachel: All right. [sarcastically] In order to prevent adultery I’ll be
Dominique Francon.

[
Cut to Dominique’s office. Toohey approaches.
]

Toohey: Hello, Miss Francon.

Dominique: Hello Mr. Toohey! Do you want anything?

Toohey: Well, just to inform that it has been my observation that you are very
fond of Mr. Howard Roark.

Dominique: Roark? What of all things made you think that I’m attracted to this
orange-headed talentless architect?

Toohey: For instance the last party of Mrs. Holcombe.

Dominique: What about that party? I hardly looked in his direction more than
once.

Toohey: Exactly.

Dominique: Mr. Toohey, I should say it is my diagnosis that you over-estimate
your “powers of observation”.

Toohey: Miss Francon… I’m getting tired of this useless mind war. What do
you say about us being fully sincere with one another?

Dominique: Yeah, OK - that’s a good idea.

Dominique: OK, Mr. Toohey, here’s the thing about Roark: [grabs Toohey by his collar
and shakes him] I WANT HIM BAD!

Toohey:[Releases her hands of his collar.] Calm down, Miss Francon. I dare say
my experience in this field had been… inadequate… but it is a common belief
that sometimes it is best to simply tell one’s object of affection about it.

Dominique Seducing Roark

[
Cut to Roark’s house. He is sitting at a desk at the back of the frame, hears
a door bell, opens the door. It’s Dominique.
]

Roark: Oh, Miss Francon, please come in.

Dominique:[Enters] I want to sleep with you.

Roark:[Interrupting her] That’s very nice. I’d like to sleep with you too.
But I’ve got some work to do, so I can’t. [sits back at his desk.]

Dominique: Hrrr… all right - pretend that I’m not here. Pretend that you’d
rather work on your stupid buildings. You wouldn’t even be distracted if I
stood naked in the middle of the room!

Roark: Actually, that would distract me.

Dominique: Why?

Roark: I can see your reflection in the window. [Pause.] I should have
thought about it when I designed this room.

Dominique Telling Toohey about her Love Life

[
Cut to Dominique’s office. She is talking to Toohey
]

Dominique: Anyway, then we were tired of fooling around, so we went to bed,
and I started telling him about my day, but you know men: he fell asleep
immediately.

Toohey: As much as I enjoy it, Miss Francon, I do not understand why you are
telling me all that.

Dominique:[Holding his hands] Mr. Toohey, you know that I know that you are
the most hideous, devious, and destructive man in New-York city. But knowing
every detail of my love life would not help you a bit, would it? [She lets go
of his hands, walks to her desk, and grabs her typewriter]

Dominique: Wanna have lunch together?

Sophie’s sex advice.

[
Cut to the arbour of Sophie’s mansion. Sophie is sitting on a chair next to a
glass table. She is reading a book. The New-York Banner is laid on the table.
Sophie is dressed in a light but very chic and elegant dress. Catherine enters,
dressed much more plainly and in less style.
]

Sophie: Well, I just read this article in the banner by this Dominique Francon
character. She is quite amusing you know. Anyway, she says here: “I believe
that women should become more assertive and take control of their
relationships. God knows it helped me.”

Roark: I have met Mr. Wynand, whom I believe is your boss. I’ll be meeting him
again this evening. How charming.

Wynand’s Offer

[
Cut to a restaurant. Everybody is sitting there, dressed in a light but
elegant way.
]

Wynand: So, I said to them: “No. I don’t remember seeing anyone that looks like
Woodrow Wilson passing by…”

[
Everybody laughs.
]

Wynand: You know, Howard, I think you’re a great architect. And, Peter, you’re
very good as a publicist.

Keating and Roark: Thanks, Mr. Wynand.

Wynand: Call me Gail. Anyway, what did you say if I told you that I’ll arrange
it so you two can never work build buildings or do public-relations stuff
again? I’ll even give you a monthly allowance?

Elizabeth: Not again… [she puts her head in her hands.]

[
Roark and Keating look at each other, buffled
]

Keating: So?

Roark: Yes, so what?

Wynand: What do you mean “So what?”

Keating: Well, it would give me some time to catch up with my painting.

Roark: And it would give me time to invest in my long-time passion of…

Keating: Paleontology?

Roark:[To Keating] How did you know that?

Keating: Trade’s secrets. So, does your offer still stand?

Wynand: Giving you an allowance so you can paint some stupid paintings and dig
some stupid bones. No way!

Wynand: In any case: I’m planning on setting sail with my Yacht tomorrow’s
morning. Why don’t you all join me?

Everybody else: “Yeah”, “yeah”, ”sounds like fun”.

Roark: OK. Cruising with you sounds like a good idea.

Stranded on the Deserted Island

[
Cut to the beach of a Caribbean island. The girls are sitting on the sand, the
boys are standing to the left, a little farther from the water.
]

Roark: Cruising with you was a bad idea, Gail.

Wynand: Hey, relax, so the yacht drowned. I’ll just use my contacts to get us
out of here. Now, what island this is… ahmmm. On second thought: it’s
uninhabited, so I don’t have any contacts here.

Keating: So now we don’t have contacts either? I guess that means we’ll have to
build a boat or a raft, or something.

Wynand: Build a raft? I think calling for help by using radio waves is a much
better idea.

Roark: And how exactly are you going to build a radio transmitter? For once,
we’ll need a current source and some wires.

Wynand: So? I bet we can find one metal or another on this island.

Roark: I’m with Peter: we can use stones to cut and carve the tress, and then
use twines to tie them into a raft.

[
They wander off and continue arguing. Cut to the Fountain-girls
]

Dominique: I can summarise my relationship with Howard in one word: sex. As
much as I want it, when I want it, in any way I want it, but just sex.

Catherine:[While putting her hand on the ground] I hate my life!

Dominique:[In a caring tone] Why, what’s the matter?

Catherine: I can summarise my relationship with Peter in three words: anything
but sex.

Dominique: Oh! But, trust me, the anything is much better than the sex.

Elizabeth: My problem with Gail is entirely different.

Catherine: Really?

Elizabeth: We have enough but not too much, and, besides, he’s sweet, exciting,
passionate … and he even lets me date other guys.

Dominique: So, what’s the problem?

Elizabeth: I don’t know… there just isn’t any tension. I’ll want to get married
- we’ll get married. I’ll want to have a baby - we’ll have a baby. I’ll want to
get a divorce - he’ll give me a million dollars and divorce me.

[
Cut to the fountain-boys.
]

Joey’s Voice:[Trying to sound dramatic in an old movie style] Will the boys
never stop discussing what is the best way to get out of the island? [Cut to
the fountain-girls] Will the girls do something beside complaining about their
love lives? [Split picture with both trios] Are six of the most competent men
and women in America…

Wynand: Hey!

Joey’s Voice: … In the world… ever going to get out of that Caribbean
island? Find out in the continuation of [The The Fountainhead slide is
displayed] The Fountainhead.

Joey Needs to Go

[
Cut to Monica and Rachel’s.
]

Joey: I have to go to the audition now, so we’ll have to continue this stuff
later. [Rises and walks out] Bye!

The others: Bye!… Bye, Joey! Break a leg!…

[
Joey leaves.
]

The others: Hmmm.

Chandler: I say we have a masterpiece in the making.

What did Ayn Rand do afterwards?

[
Cut. End Credits. Phoebe is sitting on the couch reading The
Fountainhead.
]

Phoebe: Wow, I forgot how great The Fountainhead was. So what did Rand do
afterwards?

Ross: Well, she wrote the screenplay for the movie adaptation of the
book, which starred Gary Cooper…

Phoebe: Oooh, yummy…

Ross: Yes, well, and then she worked on Atlas Shrugged.

Phoebe:[In a poetical fashion] “Atlas shrugged from side to side. Alas, my
end is near - the lady cried.”

Monica: Ehmm… Pheebs? That’s the “Mirror Crack’d from side to side”.

Phoebe: Oh! Ayn Rand wrote “The Mirror Crack’d” too?

Ross: No, Phoebe. That was Agatha Christie.

Phoebe: Oh! Everybody knows that Ayn Rand wrote all of Agatha Christie’s
stories.

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